Pill dispenser



L. A. EPPLIN PILL DISPENSER July 12, 1949.

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L. A. EPPLIN PILL DISPENSER July 12, 1949.

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ATTORNEYS Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE PILL DISPENSER Leo A. Epplin, Waterloo, Illl- Application January 18,1945, Serial No. 'l3,355

The invention relates to a dispenser, and more especially to a tablet dispensing device.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein candy in tablet or pill form held within a container, can be dispensed in single order, the device being provided with an ejector slide for the single delivery of such tablets or pills in the operation of such device, which is manually controlled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the same affords a container for the product, which is advanced to a dispensing point by gravity on inverting the device from an upright position, the latter being its normal position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein container for the product is of bottle form, and the latter in the original nesting thereof in the said device is devoid of a cover or stopper, thus elimihating the necessity of removing such cover or stopper when it is desired to acquire a tablet or pill, which may be singly dispensed from the said device under manual operation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision'of a device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efflcient in the operation thereof, strong, durable, readily and easily actuated, retaining freshness to the contents, operated with ease and dispatch, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter more fully set forth in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ejector slide for the device.

1 Claim: (Cl. 206-42) Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank forming a bottle retaining piece for the device.

Figure 8 is a plan of the blank forming the casing of the device.

' Figure 9 is a section showing a modified form of ejector slide increased in thickness to accommodate two or more pills in one operation.

Figure 10 is a section showing two separate bottles and a selective ejector slide adapted to operate with each.

Figure 11 is a transverse section, and taken on the line ll-H of figure 10 of the form shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a section though modified form wherein two different pills may be dispensed at the same time, and

Figure 13 is a plan view, in section in the line l3-l3 of figure 12.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally the device in its entirety as constructed in accordance with the invention, and hereinafter set forth in detail.

The device A comprises a body casing formed with sides [0, front ll, rear l2, top l3 and bottom M, respectively, these being cut and bent on erase lines [5 from a blank of relatively stiff sheet material. The front II and two sides ill have flaps l6 and I1, respectively, which are tucked in the erecting of the body casing, and similarly the top and bottom [3 and I4 have foldable tabs [8 and IQ, for this purpose. The front II has therein a peep panel 20, while the top is formed with a discharge opening 2| with which cooperates the ejector cavity 22 in a manually operated ejector slide 23 fitting a way 24 between the top l3 and retaining piece 25 next thereto, and removable from the body casing, when the top I3 is untucked therefrom. This slide has laterally extending finger grips 2B which protrude through slots 21 created in the sides II), as best seen in Figure 1 of the drawing. The cavity 22 is of a size to accommodate a single tablet or pill 28 as contained within a bottle or other like container therefor, as at 29, the latter being removably held within the body casing, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing.

The retaining piece 25 is provided with a center opening 30 for matching the outlet mouth of the bottle or the like 29, so that the tablets or pills can gravitate into the cavity 22 when the body casing is inverted from an upright position as shown in Figure 1 to a position as shown in Figures 2, 8 and 4 01' the drawing. which is the dispensing position of the device.

The slide 23 when in the position shown in the casing, the tablets or pills can be single dispensed from the said device A, on movement of such slide 29 to those positions just referred to above. The hole or opening 2| bein to one side of the vertical axis oi the casing, while the hole or opening 30 is centered to such axis, as will be apparent from Figure 2 of the drawing.

In the modified iorm oi my invention shown in Figure 9, the elector slide 23 is appreciably increased in thickness by fianging the same as at 82 so that two pills 33 will be accommodated and ejected. In the modified form of Figure-10, two bottles or containers 2! are shown, and the plate 23 has two spacer openings 31 adapted to register with either bottle opening when moved in either direction, as shown by the arrows in Figure 10, to dispense from each bottle one at a time. A crimped member I. is provided to hold the plate 29 or ejector in a closed position. In

Figure 12 diil'erent types of pills from two containers may be dispensed at the same time by the arrangement of openings 39 as shown.

What is claimed is: A device of the kind described, comprising a box-like body having a delivery opening in one end, a tablet and pill container removably-fitted 4 within the body and having an open mouth directed toward the delivery opening, a retainer piece removably'fitted within the body next to the said mouth and having an opening registering with the latter, and a single delivery dispensing slide fitted between the end of they body having the delivery opening and the retainer piece for cooperation with the openings in said end and retainer piece for efiecting single delivery of contents of the container from the body.

LEO A. EPPLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referemces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 707,062 Heineman Aug. 12, 1902 1,090,764 Thomas Mar. 17, 1914 1 173,069 Walker Feb. 22, 1916 1 186,706 Swift June 13, 1916 1 558,396 Roehrs Oct. 20, 1925 1 886,288 McDow Nov. 1, 1932 2,159,978 Parkin May 30, 1939 2,216,064 Becker Sept. 24, 1940 2,330,256 Ashton Sept. 28, 1943 2,335,016 Lorenz'en et a1 Nov. 23, 1943 2,390,448 Moeller Dec. '4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 779,379 France Jan. 14, 1935 

